Dean River Records Fall

Dean River Records Fall

After a couple years of sparse steelhead returns on western British Columbia’s fabled Dean River, anglers found reason to rejoice this summer as those big, chrome-sided backing-burners returned in good numbers. At B.C. West, a fishing lodge located on the lower river, FR&R managing editor Greg Thomas cast his lot, via a Spey rod, and walked away with big numbers—landing 16 fish in the first three days and 18 out of 28 steelhead he hooked during the week of July 17 to 24. Another angler in camp, a fishy dude with a rocket cast, industry rep Michael White, bested his former high mark for the Dean by landing 24 out of the 34 steelhead he hooked. As a six-person group, the B.C. West camp tallied 78 steelhead for the week out of 121 hookups, unparalleled success for the lodge. Other camps, including nearby Blackwell’s, tallied excellent numbers, too. For a full report on steelhead camp in British Columbia, read Greg’s Angler’s Journal feature in the upcoming Winter issue.